Potential Everipedia User Struggles to Deal With EOS’ Entry Barriers

A potential Everipedia user has been struggling to deal with EOS' entry barriers.

The potential user, on Reddit, revealed he was interested in the project but didn't know anything about blockchain technology.

Blockchain technology is finding its way into new applications every day, but entry barrier for most of these applications is still relatively high for the average user. Developers have made great strides to close this gap in recent years, but most blockchain platforms are still very intimidating to newcomers.

For example, Everipedia, the largest blockchain-based online encyclopedia, is a project that created excitement among people who don't even know what a “blockchain” is, but it seems they are having trouble figuring out how to contribute to the community.

As CryptoGlobe reported last month, Everipedia will be running on EOS.IO technology, and while no sign up is required to publish content or vote on Everipedia’s network, it does require users to have an EOS account and IQ tokens.

This process caused confusion for Redditor “willwrite4schlrshps,” who asked for help on the Everipedia subreddit.

I have no idea who or what a "block chain" is. However, I do know what an underrepresented minority in STEM is, and I'd love be invited so I can contribute to Everipedia by writing articles (plus, be eligible for the scholarship)! Thanks.

Moments later the redditor posted a follow-up question: “Okay, so I've made it to the new domain, and I've got the Scatter extension for Chrome. But Scatter is asking for my "key pair" and I have no idea what that is or how to generate one.”

Romiezzo, one of the moderators on the forum, posted the following response empathizing with the user’s frustration:

Unfortunately, registration on Everipedia.org is no longer available, as we've pushed our efforts towards creating our blockchain platform (iqnetwork.io). We understand that the process for the latter is a lot more rigorous right now, especially for someone who is not involved in crypto/the EOS community. However, because we are running on EOS, we believe it makes more sense to have people migrate to the IQ Network and start participating in the site's governance of content and technology.

In order to contribute to the online encyclopedia, a newcomer would have to go through many unfamiliar steps that involve spending money, submitting personal information and learning an entirely new technology. Since the initial post was made, there’s still no indication the new user was able to start contributing to Everipedia.

Everipedia and EOS both show potential, but as with any project in the blockchain space, including Bitcoin, there is still a long way to go before this technology is accessible to the average consumer.

Zcash 'Company' Changes Name to 'Zerocoin Electric Coin Company' for More 'Clarity'

The Zcash company, which supports the ongoing development of the Zcash (ZEC) platform, a leading privacy-oriented cryptocurrency, has rebranded to the Electric Coin Company.

According to an official company blog post, the name change from “Zcash company” to “Electric Coin Company” was made in order to have more clarity. Explaining that the “legal name” for the firm was always “the Zerocoin Electric Coin Company, LLC”, the organization clarified that it had been referring to itself as “the Zcash company.”

However, the company’s blog noted that the development of “Zcash” is a community-based project and that some of the privacy coin’s business-related initiatives may involve the Zerocoin Electric Coin commercial entity. Moreover, Zerocoin’s operations are not directly associated with the Zcash Foundation - which in itself is a “separate and independent” organization, according to the z.cash blog post. Notably, the Zcash Foundation has “its own mission, team, and board of directors.”

Rebranding Process: New Domain, Change Office Sign

Acknowledging that it will take the company “a little while to get the new branding right, launch a new domain, and change out the sign at the office”, the company blog mentioned that “the name change is public.” Except for the name change, the entity associated with Zcash explained:

We are the same team, with the same mission: to empower everyone with economic freedom and opportunity. We developed and help steward Zcash.

Zerocoin's Research & Engineering Projects May Not Be Integrated Into Zcash

Notably, the Electric Coin Company is currently working on “research and engineering [projects] that may, or may not” be integrated into the Zcash codebase, the blog noted. At present, the Electric Coin team consists of around 30 professionals from across the globe that are involved in the following initiatives:

“Product Development and Support”,

“Builds Zcash software”,

“Participates in cryptographic research”,

“Works with third parties to perform regular security audits of Zcash”,

“Improves the safety and security of the Zcash network”,

“Works on the Zcash user experience, such as the reference wallet”

Company Website, Social Media Accounts To Be Changed/Updated Soon

In addition to working collaboratively on the initiatives listed above, the Electric Coin company helps in “translating content into different languages”, creates "educational content”, and supports the overall development of the Zcash platform.

As mentioned in the company’s announcement, the Electric Coin company “information will be moved from https://z.cash/ to a new domain with its own website.” Social media accounts associated with the company will also be updated.